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Thurgood Marshall School of Law

A Proud Moment in TMSL History

TMSL alumna, U.S. Representative Sylvia Garcia is serving as an Impeachment Manager for President Trump’s im-

peachment trial. Representative Garcia, TMSL class of 1978, is one of the first two Hispanic women to represent the

state of Texas in Congress and is one of seven House members who are prosecuting President Trump. Garcia’s career

has been nothing short of groundbreaking. Not only is she one of the first Texas Latinas to win a seat in Congress, she

has served as Chief Judge for Houston’s Municipal Court System, the City Controller for Houston, and in 2003 she be-

came the first Latina Commissioner of Harris County.

Representative Garcia is a not a stranger to hard work and dedication. She grew up in a family of ten children in Palito

Blanco, a small farming community in South Texas, where she worked on a small ranch to help her family by doing

chores such as milking cows and picking cotton. It is Garcia’s work ethic that has enabled her to reach such impressive

heights in her career. She says that being asked to serve as an impeachment manager is “a big honor.” Garcia, who is in

her first-term in Congress, stated that she was persuaded to vote for impeachment due to the accusations surrounding

the President and the Ukraine. She says that President Trump has shown “flagrant disdain and disrespect of Congress,”

by ordering witnesses not to appear for questioning.

As an Impeachment Manager, Garcia serves as a prosecutor for the Senate trial and responds to arguments presented

by the President’s defense team. She, along with the other Impeachment Managers, also respond to questions from sen-

ators during the course of the trial. Although Representative Garcia is fairly new to Congress (she began her term in

2019) she has extensive litigation experience which is exactly what Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, was looking

for when choosing Impeachment Managers.

(continued on next page)

YOUR MONTHLY THURGOOD MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW ELECTRONIC NEWS & INFORMATION SOURCE FROM

THE OFFICE OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS * ASSISTANT DEAN PRUDENCE SMITH * EMAIL: prdence.smith@tmslaw.tsu.edu

(713) 313-1142 * 3100 Cleburne Street, Houston, Texas 77004 *

January-February 2020

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A Proud Moment in TMSL History con’t

Representative Sylvia Garcia has come a long way since her time at TMSL. Professors who taught her and those who

know her personally have glowing remarks and fond memories of her. Representative Garcia is the epitome of what a

TMSL success story is and a reminder to current students and alumni that graduating from Thurgood could be the be-

ginning of a stellar career in politics. Representative Garcia has made a lasting impression on the Thurgood community

and is remembered fondly by her professors and colleagues. We asked some of our Thurgood community to offer their

thoughts and here is what they had to say:

Professor Ana Otero: “I have been privileged to be a witness to her sound leadership skills and vision for a better

world. Her values are rooted on principles of fairness and equity, and her ethical beliefs are the underpinning of all

her actions. As a Latina woman raised in poverty, she has remained true to her roots and is a tireless advocate for the

rights of women, children, and minorities. She is a stellar role model for our students because of her steadfast determi-

nation to achieve her dreams, her unparalleled commitment to truth, and her endless fight for the underprivileged and

the underserved.”

Professor Anna James remembers her as “quiet, ser ious, focused, motivated, and well prepared. “ Professor

James adds that the Congresswoman knew her calling was for public service and never wavered.

Professor Martin Levy, who taught the Garcia’s Con Law class always knew that she was special and is proud

of the heights that she has attained in her career.

Professor Lupe Salinas: “I am quite impressed that she has been able to maintain an outstanding service reputa-

tion. In addition, she has a reputation as an ethical public servant. “

Reaching back to her TMSL roots, Representative Garcia used part of our motto in her summation, on February 3rd,

“We have an obligation to those who come after us to protect the Constitution and then pass it on"

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Dean Bullock Honored Amongst 27 Other Law School Deans

Dean Joan R. M. Bullock pictured with 17 of 27 Black Law School Deans

On Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, during the 15th Annual National Black Pre-Law Conference, the John Mercer

Langston Legal Education Leadership Awards honored all 27 current Black law school deans. The deans

each received a framed photo entitled “Honoring Black History Makers.” Many of the deans have broken bar-

riers by being the first. For instance, our dean, Joan R. M. Bullock, is the first female dean at TMSL. The

awards are named after John Mercer Langston, a lawyer and abolitionist, who was the first Black dean and

the first dean of Howard Law School.

Welcome Reception For Dean Joan R.M. Bullock FACULTY NEWS

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Associate Dean and Professor of Law Cassandra Hill’s ar ticle published in 2013

in the Howard Law Journal, The Elephant in the Law School Assessment Room: The

Role of Student Responsibility and Motivating Our Students to Learn, has been cited

twice this year in law reviews. Professor Heather Field cited Hill’s article for its dis-

cussion on the importance of students taking responsibility for their learning in her

article, A Tax Professor’s Guide to Formative Assessment, 22 Fla. Tax Rev. 363, 383

n.50 (2019). Then, Professor Yvonne Dutton, Professor Margaret Ryznar and Attor-

ney Kayleigh Long reference Hill’s article in Assessing Online Learning in Law

Schools: Students Say Online Classes Deliver, 96 Denver L. Rev. 493, 497 n.19

(2019), where they explain that student preferences should contribute to online

course design since students are responsible for their own learning in an autonomous

setting.

Professor Marcia Johnson has collaborated with Judge Jeremy Brown (Justice

of the Peace Court, Pct 7, Pos. 1) and Professor Michael Adams (School of Public

Affairs) to evaluate an eviction prevention PILOT program in Judge Brown’s court.

The PILOT seeks to engage multiple stakeholders in modifying policy and law to

afford opportunities for people to remain in their homes without the threat of evic-

tion. Houston landlords are a crucial part of the collaboration that also includes var-

ious homeless prevention organizations. Johnson's team was awarded a grant in the

amount of $150,000 to conduct research and assessment of the PILOT. Eviction is a

major problem in communities of color, especially for Black women. In a highly

acclaimed book entitled “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City”, author

Matthew Desmond writes, “If incarceration had come to define the lives of men

from impoverished black neighborhoods, eviction was shaping the lives of women.

Poor black men were locked up. Poor black women were locked out”.

Professor Deana Pollard Sacks’s book, The Godfathers of Sex Abuse, Book I:

Jeffrey Epstein, was released on 12.19.19 and is available on Amazon.com. The

book has received extremely good reviews by law school professors, deans, and ci-

vilians. Her second book, Book II: Harvey Weinstein & Bill Cosby, will be released

in March 2020, and a related third academic book, Sex Torts, should be released lat-

er in 2020.

FACULTY NEWS CON’T

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TMSL’s own Distinguished Professor, Dean James M. Douglas was recently

recognized as a living legend. African American News & Issues profiled Dean

Douglas for his many accomplishments and contributions to the community. Doug-

las has been especially active as a member of the TSU community from his time as

a student (TSU class of 1966 and TMSL class of 1970), TSU President, TMSL

Dean, until now as a distinguished professor of law at TMSL Dean Douglas has

spent time teaching and administering at other law schools but he ultimately re-

turned to TMSL. In addition to his dedication to this school, Dean Douglas also

serves as the President of the Houston chapter of the NAACP . Dean Douglas’

many contributions to civil rights and the youth in Houston is one of the many rea-

sons why he is a living legend.

In addition to being named a living legend, Dean Douglas served as a keynote

speaker at the Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church’s 107th Church An-

niversary on December 8, 2019. The theme of the anniversary was “ Longevity Equals Obedience.”

L. Darnell Weeden, Associate Dean Associate Dean for Research and Faculty

Development and Roberson King Professor of Law on December 6, 2019, de-

livered a welcome speech at the mitigation training session cohosted by Advanc-

ing Real Change, Inc. (ARC) of Baltimore, Maryland and the Thurgood Marshall

School of Law’s Earl Carl Institute (ECI) on the campus of Texas Southern Uni-

versity. Weeden thanked the attendees for coming to Texas Southern University.

He said the fact that the attendees were at the ARC training demonstrated their

interest making an important commitment to mitigation and its call for criminal

justice, Weeden informed the audience that after he did a little research by con-

necting to an ARC link he discovered the purpose of the mitigation training by

ARC is to promote justice by ensuring that the life histories of people charged

with crimes are at the forefront of their cases.

ARC work as mitigation specialists on cases where clients are represented by public defenders, court appoint-

ed, or pro bono counsel and are at risk of receiving extreme sentences. After finding out the type of work

ARC does Weeden declared for emphasis let the record reflect during the weekend of December 6-8, 2019 in

Houston Texas, on the campus of Texas Southern University that an ARC mitigation training was co-hosted

by the Thurgood Marshall School of Law and ECI. Weeden said a co- sponsored mitigation training by ARC

and ECI is a natural fit because ECI is dedicated to finding social justice answers to some of the social justice

issues that disproportionately impact communities of color as well as other communities that are underrepre-

sented in society. ECI free legal services programs include but are not limited to the ECI Juvenile Justice Pro-

ject and the Thurgood Marshall School of Law Innocence Project.

FACULTY NEWS CON’T

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Professor Ericka Kelsaw organized a collaboration between TMSL and the

School of Public Affairs (“SOPA”). In the fall 2019 semester, she wrote a 1L prob-

lem involving criminal law and forensic science. To engage and excite the students

on their final writing problem, she partnered with Dr. Jasmine Drake, a forensic sci-

entist at SOPA, who presented the “real world” implications of the subject matter to

every 1L student. Specifically, Dr. Drake’s cross-over lecture provided tools for ana-

lyzing forensic drug evidence. This was the first interdisciplinary collaboration of this

kind and the response from students was very positive.

Professor SpearIt has accepted an invitation to join the Editor ial Board for the

Race and the Law Prof Blog, which is a member of the Law Professor Blogs Net-

work. He has also accepted an invitation to speak at the conference, “Poverty Law?

Where We Go from Here,” at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law

(April 2020). As a Berkeley Law graduate, he is especially looking forward to re-

turning to his alma mater. SpearIt was recently interviewed as the cover story in the

Islamic Society of North America’s Islamic Horizons Magazine (Jan./Feb. 2020)

for his commentary on Latino Muslims in prison, https://issuu.com/isnacreative/

docs/ih_january-february_20. His scholarship was recently cited in a number of

publications including, Religious Education for Prisoners in Romania, 12 Soc’y.

Soc. Work (2019); Beyond Recidivism: Identifying the Liberatory Possibilities of

Prison Higher Education, 7 Crit. Ed. 1 (2019); Honors Theses by Mary Duggan

Hill, Discourse about the Phenomenon of Mass Islamic Conversion as a Quasi-Religion of the American In-

carceration Complex (Whitman College 2019), https://arminda.whitman.edu/theses/2019059 and Isabella Lu-

po, What are the Best Practices in New York Education Programs Use With Prison Facilities? (Pace Univer-

sity 2019), https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1274&context=honorscollege_th

eses; his scholarship was also cited in the bibliography of a Sabbatical Leave Request by Prof. Lisa Nelson at

Norco College, https://legistarwebproduction.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/368906/

Sabbatical_Leave_Request_Li sa_Nelson.pdf.

FACULTY NEWS CON’T

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Professor Fernando Colon has recently been recognized twice for his out-

standing work. Lawyers of Distinction recognized him for his excellence in Im-

migration Law for the year 2019 and he is also a 2019 recipient of the Albert

Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. The Marquis Who’s Who Publica-

tions Board presented him with the honor, which is reserved for Marquis Biog-

raphies who have achieved longevity and demonstrated unwavering excellence in

their chosen fields. Professor Colon has been an inspiration to many students and

has served the legal community well. Both awards are truly well deserved.

Professor Shaundra Kellam Lewis, a Supreme Cour t Exper t, r ecently

spoke at the American Association of Law Schools annual meeting in Wash-

ington, D.C. She covered the future of the Second Amendment in the Supreme

Court. The talk centered around New Y ork State Rifle & Pistol Association v.

New York (NYSRPA), recently heard by the Supreme Court and the ramifica-

tions it will have on the right to keep and bear arms.

To view the full Thurgood Faculty Spotlight go to:

http://www.tsulaw.edu/faculty/2019-20_spotlights/TMSL_Spotlight_Jan_15_2020_Edition.pdf

FACULTY NEWS CON’T

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TMSL Staff Receive Prestigious Awards and Appointments

Associate Director, Law Library

Danny Norris, was recently named the Vice President of the Har r is County De-

partment of Education Board in addition to being a Trustee. His appointment as Vice

President comes one short year after Norris was sworn into office as a Trustee in Janu-

ary of 2019.

Assistant Dean Academic Support/Bar Readiness

Ronda Harrison Benjamin served as a moderator at the National Black Pre-Law

Conference & Law Fair that took place in New York City on November 8-9, 2019.

She was also a Legal Education Access and Diversity Champion Honoree at their

15th Anniversary Awards.

Associate Director of ECI Special Projects & Publications

Lucinda Daniels was one of the fir st recipients of TSU’s Shining Star award. This

award is given to a TSU employee (Faculty/Staff) who “exemplifies an attitude of ser-

vice, and brightens up the work place and are always willing to go the extra mile.” Lu-

cinda Daniels captures all these qualities and more and we would like to congratulate her

as TSU’s Shining Star.

STAFF NEWS

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Shell Oil has made some major legal changes lately. One of those changes

involves TMSL’s own attorney Kimberly Phillips (class of 1993, valedictori-

an) who was named the new Head of Global Litigation. Pr ior to her new

role Mrs. Phillips was the associate general counsel of global litigation for the

Americas. She has been an attorney for Shell since 2006, after leaving her

position as partner at Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP. In her previous role she

was responsible for overseeing all of Shell’s litigation matters in the Ameri-

cas region and managed a team of nearly 60 legal professionals, including 35

lawyers who manage litigation in countries throughout the region.

In her new role she will play a critical part in facilitating the partnership between legal and Shell’s businesses

that will enable Shell to strategize and navigate the opportunities and risks of the energy sector. Commenting

on her new role Phillips said, "As we move forward, my ambition is for us to continue being thought-leaders

in our approach to dispute handling and resolution and to drive a legal strategy aimed at supporting Shell's

strategic targets and ambitions." Mrs. Phillips will be part of the team involved in fighting lawsuits filed by

local and state governments that are pending before the ninth circuit.

Kimberly, who is based out of Houston, is known for being an advocate for increased diversity in the legal

and energy sectors as evidenced by her dedication to community organizations such as the National Bar As-

sociation where she has served in many capacities. She is an appellate law expert and is board certified in

Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has written and presented numerous

speeches on a variety of topics pertaining to civil litigation and appeals. TMSL would like to congratulate

Kimberly Phillips in her new role as she continues to make us proud!

ALUMNI NEWS

Attorney Kimberly Phillips is Shell Oil’s New General Counsel of

Global Litigation

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John Fairman is a Newly Elected Associate

Judge in Cook County, Illinois

Judge John Fairman is a part of the newly selected class of associ-

ate judges in Cook County, Illinois. On December 5, 2019, Cook

County announced 15 new associate judges who were selected in a

vote of Cook County Circuit Court judges. Judge Fairman, TMSL

class of 2003, is one of the youngest to be appointed in this group.

Prior to his appointment as a judge, Fairman spent years in public

service for the state and federal government before entering private

practice. Fairman spent time on Capitol Hill, working with the Judi-

ciary Committee and he was named the Lead Congressional staff

member for the Enron case of 2002 for the 18th Congressional Dis-

trict of Texas. While there, he helped write legislation to change the

United State’s accounting laws. Fairman gained plenty of courtroom

experience after serving as a prosecutor and specializing in criminal

and civil litigation. He became a Senior Partner at Lee & Fairman,

LLP in 2012.

Judge Fairman has made a lasting impact on Cook County through his service to professional and community

organizations. He has served on the Board of Directors for several community and legal organizations and in

2012 he was appointed to the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission Review Board by the Su-

preme Court of Illinois. Additionally, he was named a Super Lawyer of Illinois in 2014. Judge Fairman began

his tenure as an associate judge on December 5, 2019 and his term will expire on June 30, 2023.

ALUMNI NEWS cont.

Alumni on the Move

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Oliver Brown ‘12 Nicole Bates ‘03 Dan Scarbrough ‘11

Cynthia Bailey, candidate for City Council District B is at the center of a legal dispute that will determine if she is eligi-

ble to remain on the ballot in a run-off election despite her felony conviction. Ms. Bailey is being represented by TMSL

alum Oliver Brown, class of 2012. Attorney Brown has passionately defended Ms. Bailey in her attempt to stay on the

ballot and he is not backing down. Renee Jefferson-Smith, who finished third behind Bailey, has filed two lawsuits

seeking to have Bailey declared ineligible. Jefferson-Smith would likely take Bailey’s place on the ballot if she is re-

moved. She is represented by alums Nicole Bates, class of 2003 and Dan Scarbrough, class of 2011. Attorney Bates and

Attorney Scarbrough who have fervently represented their client say that “If Ms. Bailey wins she can’t be seated.”

Current state law says that “a person must have not been finally convicted of a felony from which the person has not

been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities.” However, Attorney Brown argues that his client,

Ms. Bailey is eligible to be on the ballot under Texas “home rule” statutes. According to TEX. LOC. GOV’T sect.

51.072, a city that has over 5,000 inhabitants is authorized by Article XI, section 5 of the Texas Constitution to hold an

election to adopt a home rule charter. Once a home rule charter is adopted, a city thereafter has the full power of local

self-government, the power to govern itself so long as charter provisions or ordinances are not inconsistent with state or

federal law. Attorney Brown is confident that in the end, Cynthia Bailey will be on the run-off ballot with Tarsha Jack-

son and the lawsuit is just “delaying the inevitable.” Attorney Bates and Attorney Scarbrough followed up with a press

release where they point out, among other things, that municipal charters do not supersede the state constitution and

that the right to hold office is not available to felons and requires a pardon or release of the felon’s disability.

This issue has yet to be settled by courts. District B did not appear on the December ballot that all other Harris County

run-off elections appeared on. Mayor Sylvester Turner said that he hoped that District B residents would be able to

vote in an election in May due to the state election code prohibiting other elections from being held on the same day as

a primary election. After the legal challenge is resolved, Harris County requires seven weeks notice before the election

can be held. On February 4, 2020, a Harris County judge ruled in favor of Cynthia Bailey remaining on the ballot, de-

spite her felony conviction. Both sides were diligent in their representation of their clients and we are proud of all

TMSL attorneys involved in this case. Now the question becomes, if Cynthia Bailey wins, will she actually be seated?

Current state law says no. We will be following this case closely to see if legal precedence is made.

ALUMNI NEWS cont.

TMSL Alumni Go Head to Head in a Case Slated to Set Legal Precedence

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In November 2019, alum Terry Palacios (class of 1991), held onto his position as a

municipal judge in Edinburgh in a landslide victory over his opponent. This is the

first time that Palacios has had an opponent in over twenty years. After his victory

Palacios said, “I will continue to serve the community with dignity and integrity.”

Palacios has been proudly serving the Edinburgh community for over 25 years.

Edward Pollard, class of 2012, is the newly elected Councilman in Distr ict J

for Houston’s City Council. He prevailed over Sandra Rodriguez after a run-off

election on December 14, 2019 between the two. Councilman Pollard has been an

integral part of the District J community by organizing forums to engage with the

public on issues that concern them. His law office was also in District J. Pollard

has demonstrated a commitment to the community that is sure to carry over into

his new position as Councilman. Pollard assumed office on January 2, 2020 and

his term will end on January 2, 2024.

Randy Bates won a seat as a member of the Aldine Independent School Distr ict

Board of Trustees on November 5, 2019 and assumed office on November 19, 2019.

He represents Position 1 on the board. Randy, class of 1981, previously ran for the

Texas House of Representatives to represent District 139. Bates won his seat by re-

ceiving 28 more votes than Jamail Johnson.

ALUMNI NEWS cont.

TMSL Alumni Come Up Big in Elections

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THURGOOD THURSDAY HOUSTON EDITION: A CONVERSATION

WITH DEAN JOAN R. M. BULLOCK

JANUARY 23, 2020 SPONSORED BY ROBERTS MARKLAND LLP

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THURGOOD THURSDAY HOUSTON EDITION: CON’T

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Ahmad Azam Rocio Cervantes Sean R. Darvishi Edna H. Dinsdale

Shawn Dorward Marcus Esther Daedrea Fenwick John Greenslade Pennsylvania Georgia

Husein Hadi Yanine Krohn

*State of Texas unless otherwise noted

ALUMNI NEWS

Congratulations to Super Lawyers Newest Rising Stars of 2020

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Nicholas Perez Erin D. Quander Alyssa L. Romero Shanisha Y. Smith

Miriah Alexandria Soliz Omar O. Vargas Aaron Isadore Bryant

Special Congratulations to Judge Rabeea Sultan Collier for being a Rising Star

from 2010-2020!

ALUMNI IN THE NEWS cont.

Congratulations to Super Lawyers Newest Rising Stars of 2020

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Alyssa Leffall, New Dean at Mercer Law School

Alyssa Leffall is the new Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Mercer

Law School in Macon, GA. Leffall started her new role on Dec. 2, 2019.

Previously she was a special assistant to the vice president for student affairs

at Texas A&M University. She also worked as assistant director of campus

life and student development at Texas A&M, a program coordinator in the

Student Conduct Office and as interim assistant director in the Office of the

Dean of Student Life. Ms. Leffall, TMSL class of 2007 says, “ I’m very ex-

cited to join the Mercer Law School family and contribute to its longstanding

support of student success.”

Dasheika Ruffin Hired as Adviser to Senator Warren’s

Presidential campaign

Dasheika Ruffin, a former regional director for the ACLU and TMSL class of 2007,

has been added as a national adviser to the Warren Presidential campaign to work with

coalitions that focus on religious voters as well as females, minorities and LGBTQ in

Georgia and other diverse states. She has also previously served as a top aide to U.S. Rep.

Ayanna Pressley, a Massachusetts Democrat and Warren ally. Ruffin was named to War-

ren’s team in early January 2020.

Rolanda Dent Burkhalter Presides Over Hearings for

Texas Education Agency

Attorney Rolanda Dent Burkhalter of The Dent Law Firm will now be serving as

Judge over the administrative hearings for the Texas Education Agency. Rolanda, who is

TMSL class of 1999, has served the community for over 20 years and is excited to step into

her new role.

Marissa Hatchett joins

Koons Fuller PC’s Dallas Office

Attorney Marissa Hatchett, class of 2012, has joined the Dallas office of Koons Fuller,

PC as their newest family law associate. Hatchett, who is also the 2020 President Elect

of the J.L. Turner Legal Association (the African-American Bar Association of Dallas,

TX), is the first African-American attorney for the Dallas office.

ALUMNI ON THE MOVE

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Congratulations to Chevazz Brown for being named the TMCP Trailblazer of the Year . Chevazz, a

partner at Jackson Walker, LLP, received this honor at the Annual Texas Minority Counsel Program, which

was held November 6-8, 2019 at the Four Seasons Resort and Club-Las Colinas. Brown received this honor

because of his dedication to creating and enhancing opportunities for minority, women, and LGBT attorneys

at Jackson Walker and within the broader legal community. The award, which is presented every year to a

Texas attorney who has practiced twenty years or less, honors individuals who have “done the most to effec-

tuate the promotion of diversity within the legal profession through hiring, retention, and mentoring of minor-

ity, women, and LGBT attorneys, partnering with minority, women, and LGBT owned law firms, and in-

volvement with Bar and/or community activities designed to promote diversity within the legal profession.”

Chevazz has demonstrated his commitment to diversity by serving as a leader on numerous committees such

as the HBA’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee—formerly known as MOILP. Chevazz said, “I am grateful

for the opportunity to help move our profession closer toward professional equality—equal access, equal op-

portunity.” The TMSL family proudly congratulates Chevazz on receiving this prestigious honor.

ALUMNI IN THE NEWS

Chevazz Brown Named TMCP Trailblazer of the Year

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Brian Middleton First African American DA in Fort Bend

Brian Middleton, TMSL class of 1997, has made many positive

changes since he took office as Fort Bend’s District Attorney in 2018.

Middleton is the first African American DA in Fort Bend County and

the first Democrat to take the office in 26 years. Middleton is all

about diversity in the DA’s office saying that “We bear the title of

being the most diverse county in the United States, and we should act

like it, our government should reflect that.” He has steadfastly

brought much needed changes to the courthouse which include re-

newed efforts on bail reform, human trafficking, and the juvenile justice system. DA Middleton says that he

had to make tough decisions when reorganizing and staffing his office but it was much needed. He was very

intentional about making diverse hires among those hires are veteran attorneys, experienced judges, and Re-

publicans. Although some people were skeptical of him as the first African American DA and were overt in

their criticism there were also many people who were encouraging. Middleton has become the face of change

in Fort Bend county and has incorporated his philosophy of change into the DA’s office.

TMSL Alumni Instrumental in Houston’s New W Hotel

Thanks to a few Thurgood Alumni downtown Houston is now the newest

location for the W Hotel, a luxury brand owned by Marriott International.

Attorney Preston Middleton (TMSL class of 1985) and Attorney Ricky

Anderson (TMSL class of 1992) were a part of making this deal happen.

The approval to build this hotel came from the HoustonFirst Board of Di-

rectors in mid January 2020. The hotel will be on top of the George R.

Brown Convention Center parking garage. There are two other W hotels

in Texas—one in Austin and the other in Dallas.

ALUMNI IN THE NEWS cont.

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When: February 29, 2020 6 pm—8 pm

Where:

Antioch Missionary Baptist Church

YAC Multipurpose Center

3920 West Cardinal Dr

Beaumont, TX 77705

Tickets can be purchased online at:

www.tsugoldenalumni.eventbrite.com

For more information on Sponsorships,

Tables, and Tickets

Please Call: 484-842-2253 or email:

tsugoldenalumni@gmail.com

The Investiture Ceremony: The Honorable Jason K. Pulliam

The Honorable Jason K. Pulliam, United State District Judge for the West-

ern District of Texas, will be having an Investiture Ceremony on Thursday,

February 20, 2020.

This event will take place at the Lila Cockrell Theatre in San Antonio, Tex-

as.

The Investiture is by invitation and there will be a celebration immediately

following it.

ALUMNI NEWS

Alumni Upcoming Events

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STUDENT NEWS

Congratulations to Our December 2019 Graduates!!!!

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December Graduates

Candidates for Juris Doctor Honors

Summa Cum Laude

Bernardo Villarreal Aguirre

Magna Cum Laude

Ashkan Attar

Leidy Guilamo Severino

Raquel M. Perez

Cum Laude

James Orlando Alaniz

Kristopher Anthony Alvarez

Kesha Lecole Amos

Paola Garcia

Kennedy DeWayne Jones, Jr.

Arturo Lima

Oluwatoni Nichols Adetutu Ojomo

Gabriel Okoye

Christopher Alberto Velasquez

Jessica Ren’ee Wilson

STUDENT NEWS cont.

Congratulations to Our December 2019 Graduates!!!!

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December Graduates

Candidates for Juris Doctor

Joana Anaya

Carmen Elisa Barba

John Hugh Cross

Jose Juan Chapa, III

Contessa Jeree Duncan-Henderson

Mark Zuriel Escamilla

Jackeline Gonzalez

BreeAnn Michelle Hammond

Kimberly Kristina Hinojosa

Dwight Andree-Sean O’Neil Jones

Fabian DeWayne Lee

Marcel Morris Medley

Jennifer Elisabeth Sandoval

Khoryan Alexandria Strange

Mwokozi Taylor

Paulette Tostado

Keyona Nicole White

Candidates for Master of Laws

Zaine Blanche Kasem

Jan Miguel Otero-Martinez

STUDENT NEWS cont.

Congratulations to Our December 2019 Graduates!!!!

24

STUDENT NEWS

BLSA’s Annual Wine & Cheese

November 23, 2019 Hosted at Dean Douglas’ House

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Congratulations to our BLSA mock trial team Amber Simpson (3L), Coren Majors (2L), Erica Johnson (2L),

and Elayne Robinson (2L) on their first place win at the Southwest BLSA regional competition! The competi-

tion was held on January 15-16 at UNT Dallas College of Law during the SWBLSA Annual Regional Con-

ference. The team practiced tirelessly for months to prepare for the competition and their hard work paid off.

The team was coached by alums Tim Adams and Preston Strickland. Their first place win automatically qual-

ifies the team for the national competition to be held in Cincinnati, OH March 3-8, 2020. Keep up the excel-

lent work and good luck on your national competition, ladies! A special thank you to the very generous Dal-

las Alumni for treating both the mock trial and moot court teams to dinner at Iron Cactus and for the gift

cards worth $650 in total.

Judge Valencia Nash · Pamela Johnson · Judge Reedy Spigner · Judge Monica Purdy · Julia Malveaux

We Thank You!!!

STUDENT NEWS cont.

BLSA Mock Trial Team Wins BIG At Regionals!!!

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STUDENT NEWS cont.

BLSA Mock Trial Team Wins BIG At Regionals!!!

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Amber Simpson has shown great courage and perseverance during her time at

TMSL. Despite battling sickle cell anemia and having five hospital stays since

2017, Amber will receive her JD this year on May 8, 2020. Amber’s fighting

spirit and can-do attitude is to be admired. Professors and fellow classmates

agree that Ms. Simpson shows an astounding work ethic. The most inspiring

thing about Amber is that she never has an excuse not to work hard, she works

hard and defies the odds in spite of sickle cell.

Amber says that, “The experiences of Sickle Cell sufferers are different. In a

healthy person, red blood cells are actually round and carry oxygen. A sickle

cell person’s blood cells don’t carry oxygen. The cells are brittle, hard and fold-

ed under like a sickle, making it difficult to move through veins and causing

excruciating pain as it cuts off oxygen throughout the body.” There is some

good news for Amber and others who suffer from sickle cell. A lot of progress has been made through re-

search. Amber explains that, “New medicines are coming out, and about 100 people have actually been cured

through experimental trials by drug companies.”

In addition to keeping up with her studies and taking care of her health Amber is a law clerk at Clarke & As-

sociates, a firm she will become an associate at upon graduation, and the Chief Justice of the Board of Advo-

cates at TMSL. Amber is also a member of the first place SWBLSA regional mock trial team, an activity that

she has put many hours of practice into since 1L year and that will no doubt help her as a trial attorney. Am-

ber says that her father’s profession as a law enforcement agent prompted her desire to be a trial attorney. She

wants her practice to be in Labor & Employment Law and some Criminal Defense Law.

Amber is a Dallas native and she lived there with her siblings, her mother, who is a nutritionist and her father

who was a police officer for 26 years with the Dallas police department. She tragically lost her father in an

off duty motorcycle when he was just 51 years old. Amber says that she is grateful to both of her parents for

setting a good example and teaching her that sickle cell should not defeat her. She is grateful for her two sis-

ters who are always there for her and for lifelong friends who have stuck with her.

You can read more of Amber’s story at: http://www.houstonwomanmagazine.com/index.php/issues/1189-law

-school-student-achieving-lofty-goals-despite-challenges-of-sickle-cell-disease

STUDENT NEWS CONT’D

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Amber Simpson

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The Erika Lynette Glenn Scholarship was established by alumni who knew Ms. Glenn . She graduated from

Thurgood in 2011 and in 2016 she opened her own practice. Erika left a lasting impression on those who

knew her and it is evident by the many people who contributed to the scholarship to keep her legacy alive

that she was cherished member of the Thurgood family.

Thank you to our alumni donors who made this year’s scholarship possible !!

Ashton Taylor · Omar O. Vargas · Bret Stanley · Greg Okehie · Katrina Davis · Juan Vargas · Jojo Plumbar ·

Rhonda Harrison · Miesha Hayne-Nwofia · Jacob Hyde · James Pope · Toysha Jones Martin ·Bianca B Rini ·

Toni Kersey · Brooke Fuse ·Tonyce Gustave · TaLisa Jones-Lowery · Tiffany Hill · Manik "Tony" Wadha-

wan · Krystin Collins · Darren Sankey · Eddrea McKnight

STUDENT NEWS CONT’D

Student Scholarship Recipients

The Erika Lynette Glenn Scholarship

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Congratulations to Antoinette Taylor and Gabriel Okoye (not pictured), recipients of the Bailey-Clarke

Scholarship and many thanks to alumni Vonda Bailey and Peter Clarke for sponsoring this scholarship!

The Bailey-Clarke scholarship was founded by TMSL alums Vonda Bailey and Peter Clarke to assist third

year TMSL students with expenses while sitting for the Texas February and July Bar exam. They have given

out six awards to TMSL students since 2017 totaling $25,000.

STUDENT NEWS CONT’D

Student Scholarship Recipients

The Bailey-Clarke Bar Scholarship

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Upcoming Events

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Upcoming CLE

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Mishka Marshall Class of 1995

It is with heavy hearts that we report the passing of one of TMSL’S own, alumna, Mishka

Marshall. Mishka was born on February 7, 1966 and transitioned on December 3,

2019. Ms. Marshall was a practicing attorney in Arizona where she was admitted to the

state bar on October 21, 1995. From there she joined Arizona’s largest full service law

firm. Her work has included representing employers and employees in employment litiga-

tion, insurance defense work, commercial litigation, and personal injury. In 2001, Mishka

founded Marshall Law Group, P.C., (now Marshall Law, P.C.) a boutique law firm that represents small busi-

nesses and employees in employment cases. The firm's practice also includes contract disputes or commer-

cial litigation and personal injury cases. Mishka was active in many community organizations and enjoyed

spending time with her family. She will truly be missed by all of her family, friends, clients, and the TMSL

community.

Pamela Franklin Class of 1992

Alumna Pamela J. Franklin passed away in January 2020. Please keep the family of Attorney

Franklin in your prayers.

IN MEMORIAM

Professor Erika Kelsaw’s Father: Dr. James W. Kelsaw, Sr.

We are saddened to report the passing of Professor Erika Kelsaw’s beloved father. We send our condolences

to the Kelsaw family at this difficult time.

IN MEMORIAM

TMSL Loses Two of Its Own

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TMSL Alumna Sadarie Chambliss Holston’s Mother— Josephine Chambliss

It is with heavy hearts that we inform you of the death of educator Josephine

Chambliss, mother of alum Sadarie Chambliss Holston and wife of famed civ-

il rights attorney Alvin O. Chambliss, Jr. Mrs. Chambliss was an educator in

Oxford, MS from the late 1970’s until her retirement in 1993. Described as a

“quiet leader” and a “quiet spirit” she was dedicated to her role as an educator

often tutoring students for free after hours. Josephine Chambliss passed away

at 79 years old on January 13, 2020 and is survived by her husband, Alvin O. Chambliss, Jr.; her children Sa-

darie, Alvin III, and Alvenia; and her beloved Chambliss/Johnson/Kincaid families.

TMSL Alum Preston Middleton’s Mother—Anna Ruth Middleton

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of alum Preston Mid-

dleton’s mother, Anna Ruth Middleton. Mrs. Middleton was born on Decem-

ber 17, 1928 and passed on December 14, 2019 shortly before her 91st birth-

day. Anna was an educator and she received both her bachelor’s and master’s

in education from Texas Southern University. She spent 40 years teaching at

Phillis Wheatley senior high school and concluded her career at James D. Ryan

middle school. She is survived by her husband William Preston “Nobby” Mid-

dleton, Jr., her children William Preston Middleton, III and Nicole Anna Mid-

dleton Oliney, their spouses; her grandchildren, goddaughter, many nieces,

nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

TMSL Alumna Allie Booker’s Brother—Earl Williams

Our sincerest condolences are sent to alum Allie Booker and her family on

the passing of her brother Earl Williams. Mr. Williams passed away on De-

cember 29, 2019 and leaves behind his father James Green and numerous sib-

lings, nieces, and nephews. Please keep Allie and her family in your thoughts

and prayers.

IN MEMORIAM

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